The recently concluded 2012 One Lap of America competition featured the BMW Performance Driving School Team driving the new BMW M5 entered by BMW North America.

The Monte Carlo Blue 2013 BMW M5 competed in a totally stock configuration (in showroom floor form), with the exception of high performance brake pads and high temperature brake fluid. Powering the M5 was the new twin turbo V8 S63Tu engine offering 560 horses and 500 lb. ft. of torque through a 7-speed M DCT transmission. Responsible for transferring all that power to the road was a set of Michelin Pilot Super Sports mounted on optional 20” wheels. One of the race rules was that all vehicles had to complete the entire race on ones set of tires. Below are videos showing the highlights from each major leg of the race.

The BMW Performance Driving School Team piloted the 2013 M5 to a 14th place finish, out of 75 cars total. Not a bad result at all when you consider that it was stock and competed against a field of many modified sports cars.

Highlights from the BMW Performance Driving School's One Lap of America

It would be good to know what kind of pad was used by the M team.
It would be good to know if US drivers can request or *buy up* to that solution (assuming it is a BMW high performance brake pad) as part of their maintenance program.

It would be good to know what kind of pad was used by the M team.
It would be good to know if US drivers can request or *buy up* to that solution (assuming it is a BMW high performance brake pad) as part of their maintenance program.

Does anyone know?

I'll try and remember to ask these questions tomorrow. I am visiting the Performance Center. The F10 is apparently ready for the M Schools and hopefully for hot laps.

That's all I am looking for is the brake information. I know there is another thread where people were not always happy with the new M5's brake performance, but if the M guys were happy with the brake performance for the one lap of America runs with the changes they made then that is a testimonial I'll listen to.

I have traditionally been hard on brakes even in spirited driving, and coming from the 06 Infiniti M45 and an 03 Lincoln LS v8: the brake system was the first thing on both of those cars that I touched. I went to EBC Reds on both cars and upgraded rotors and complete ss brake lines. EBC Reds are a bit 'gruesome' on soft rotors when it comes to wear/run-out. So again, back to looking for what the M guys were using at the One Lap of America Runs.

I was one of the last persons in the last group to drive it, so they were warmed up and no noise that I could tell. Although all I listened to was the turbine like rush of acceleration, pulling hard from a slow corner even in 3rd. But it felt real good in 2nd too.

Unfortunately we were hustled from car to car so I didn't have much time to look it over and get to enjoy the car. I did notice it had the multi contour sport seats (no perfs) but I couldn't find the side bolster adjustments. Are they fully automatic? I'll post impressions and pics in another thread but I didn't take too many.

Note I also drove the M3 shortly after the M5. Having driven the M3 many times before, I was immediately comfortable pushing it. The M5 does feel much bigger and softer edged but also feels it could be just as capable.